Feist @ Memorial Park, Omaha

Previously published on PopWreckoning.com on 7/13/2008:

For the third consecutive summer, the city of Omaha offered a free concert for the public in Memorial Park. A nice idea in theory, but it seems like every year the unfocused crowd, acoustics or weather detracts from the experience. Therefore, driving up to Omaha, Neb., for the free Leslie Feist concert seemed like a risky idea, especially when leaving in the pouring rainstorm in Kansas City in the morning.

Fortunately, the weather cleared up by the time we went to the park to catch opening acts The Good Life and Juana Molina. The Good Life, as natives of the city, surprisingly performed to a small, but loyal crowd. The audience had significantly grown for Juana Molina, although few, if any, knew anything about this Argentinian version of Imogen Heap.

It was quite clear by the slow crowd growth that most people were just coming for Feist and she did not disappoint. The puppet-shadow stage show and her quirky and fun personality showed that Feist knew how to captivate an audience.

From the beginning when she began by starting her soft crooning behind a white screen so that the audience could only see her silhouette, I was hooked. From there Feist performed a variety of songs from soft ballads to more rocking numbers that featured a wide range of instruments from piano to flute.

Of course she performed her hit from the Ipod commercial, “1234,” which had the audience moving and counting along. Sadly, many of the audience started to leave after this song and missed many more of her great songs that followed. I guess that goes to show that you should save your big hit for last.

Feist’s songs are quirky and fun, but what really makes a Feist show spectacular is her amazing ability to adapt and incorporate the audience. Sure, we’ve all seen singers toss in the name of the city that they’re in, but Feist had the audience howling at the moon and it was hilarious when she called out, “Helicopter solo,” when a helicopter loudly interrupted the show.

Feist really proved that there is a lot more to the act than a catchy Ipod commercial. This is a live show to definitely check out.

Feist: website | myspace
Juana Molina: website | myspace
The Good Life: website | myspace

Written by: Bethany